Sermon by Liz Tilley at Wonersh 10.30 Dec 3 2006
Sermon 56
Series - Hebrews
Introduction:
I wonder if you are the sort of person who
enjoys doing puzzles and solving problems as a form of relaxation. I am - and I came across Sudoku a year or so ago, and I also enjoy a jigsaw
puzzle. But whether those appeal to you
or not, we all spend a lot of time sorting out problems of one sort or another
- how to support the family in this or that situation, trying to fit in all
we‘d hoped to do during the weekend, writing that proposal, report or
assignment. Or getting that flower
arrangement right - or the picture you are painting. You know what it feels like when you put
those last few pieces in the jigsaw puzzle, write the concluding paragraph to
the proposal and send it off, or put those final brush strokes in to complete
the picture. Completed, finished
/solved.
That’s what I feel like when I reach Hebrews Ch
10:18. “And where these (these sins)
have been forgiven …..“ The barrier that separates a holy God from sinful
people is dealt with, once for all.
Problem solved! But let’s recap a
little (we’ve had a few weeks’ break in this series) and see how the writer
reached this conclusion. In these
central chapters in the letter (6-10) he presents his main argument to his
Jewish Christian readers who were drifting away from their Christian faith and
back into Judaism. That Jesus is the
great high priest, of a different and superior order to those under the Jewish
law and he made through the offering of himself, the one perfect sacrifice for
sin. And in these last 3 chapters (8-10)
he’s been concentrating on this sacrifice and comparing it with those under the
old order brought in in the time of Moses.- looking
at the covenant which regulated it (the old, the new), the place where the
sacrifice was offered, and the sacrifice
itself, both what it was and what it achieved.
He’s worked these thoughts together, stressing one more here another
there, expanding them and building them up all the time to this climax.
V.18 “Where these …
From ch 7 We’ve read much already about Jesus and his sacrifice,
superior to those made under the Old Covenant, a mere “shadow of the good
things that are coming) 10:1, that pointed ahead to the real thing - but let’s
look at what is emphasized here:
Once for all: not repeated
year in year out 10:1b, 3, 10c,11,12,14
The sacrifice of himself, his
body 10b Not the blood of animals, bulls and goats
- and offered in complete obedience to God and his will . Words from Ps 40 quoted from the Greek
translation of the Hebrew scriptures - you’ll notice
it’s different in this Ps in your Bible - are applied to Jesus to demonstrate
the importance of sacrifice and obedience going together – (mention Saul 1
Sam 15 and the prophets - meaningless sacrifices – briefly). “He humbled
himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross” (Phil
2:8).
The achievement of the sacrifice - it did not leave people
still feeling guilty, needing to come back again and again with more sacrifices
for their sins, like the old one - or only
make some provision for the sins they committed unintentionally (Num 15) - but
it dealt with the problem once for all - taking away sin, cleansing the
conscience from guilt, and opening the way into God’s very presence.
This is the new covenant that God promised to
bring, as the prophet Jeremiah prophesied, a covenant that would change
people’s hearts, change them from the inside, and bring full and free
forgiveness. Problem solved! I can’t
resist saying what I would say if I reached this point in
But the writer has not given this lengthy and
complex argument for it’s own sake or to satisfy the readers intellectually -
not just a question of the last piece put in the puzzle - point proved - it’s
all over - put it aside - a therefore follows (v 19). “A call to persevere” as
the heading in our Bibles says. Teaching in this letter is always
closely combined with encouragement, challenge and warning as we’ve seen so
often. The wrier is encouraging his
readers to keep going and live in the reality of this truth not drift back into
the shadow.
Therefore v22 let us draw near to God - the way is open - to enter the Most Holy
place…….
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess - God is faithful.
But then there is a warning of the consequences,(v 26 FF) the serious consequences - of giving up, - there
is no further sacrifice for sin. If they
turn their backs on this provision and don’t take it seriously but live as though
Jesus did not die for sin, there is nowhere to turn, nowhere to go, nothing
that can be done or offered. It was a
serious matter under the old covenant, punishable by death, to blatantly
disobey God’s law, (Numbers 15) how much more serious to turn one’s back on
what Jesus has done.
But the writer expects better things and ends on
a positive note - reminding them of how they started so well, and encouraging
them to hang on, and persevere for the day will come when they see God’s promises
finally and fully fulfilled and their salvation completed - when Jesus returns.
There is so much here to encourage and challenge
us on our Christian journey, and that we can take with us into a new week. Probably something
different for each one of us.
Peace and assurance as we go out into
a troubled world and face the pressures that surround our lives. Peace because we can
boldly, with confidence, approach God, and “receive mercy and find grace
to help us in our time of need“. The
problem that separated us from a holy God is solved - dealt with, finished -
through the one perfect sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Through trusting in his death for us, we can
indeed know peace with God and enter his very presence, at any time and in any
place.. We
always have somewhere to turn when we fail and get things wrong, and we can
know that we are forgiven. If that’s not
true for you - it can be - the way is open.
Accept the invitation that Jesus offers.
The problem IS solved. Jesus has done
everything needed, solved it by his death.
But wouldn’t we really be happier if we could contribute something to
the solution. God doing his bit and me mine - would suit us much better. We’re not good at simply receiving. I don’t often use examples from
It may be that we also, like those first
readers, need Confidence in this truth.
We get buffeted and challenged as Christians in various ways, and
doubts can creep in. We also live in an
age where the view is that there is no objective truth, that each person’s
“truth” is as valid as the next. We’re
swimming against the tide. It’s hard and
we can be tempted to relax a little and be carried along. Believing that Jesus is unique, the Son of
God, who opened the way for us to come into God’s presence - is not very
popular. But it’s true! What did Jesus say? NB John
14:6- I am the way, the truth and the life ……”
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess
- we can all encourage one another in this as we meet together, share, pray for
one another etc. (
If you’re feeling wobbly, take this to heart.
Don’t throw away your confidence - it will be richly rewarded! Do you and I need renewed confidence in Jesus
and his one perfect sacrifice on the cross?
We all need perseverance too - God is faithful and he will complete the
work he has begun in our lives.
Where these have been forgiven there is no
longer any sacrifice for sin. Praise the
Lord! …….. Amen